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Platt's goal denies Villa the points

DWIGHT Yorke's ninth goal of the season produced a deserved equaliser for Aston Villa and marred a perfect return for David Platt.

The former Holte End favourite's header on the hour had given Arsenal the lead in the clash between the Premierships third and fourth placed clubs. But five minutes later, Villa top scorer Yorke stooped to hit home Alan Wright's left-wing cross to ensure a share of the points.

And on another day, Villa's late flurries at the end of both periods might well have been enough to clinch victory.

Villa finished the first half with a determined flourish. Alan Wright struck goalkeeper David Seaman’s crossbar with a cracking drive from fully 35 yards and then saw Tommy Johnson hit the rebound tamely into the grateful England goalkeeper's arms.

That was not the worst miss by Villa, however. Right-back Gary Charles had an open goal in front of him when Yorke having tricked Lee Dixon in a clever run from the left lobbed the ball beyond Seaman, only to see his teammate head it back beyond the far post.

John Jensen. the Arsenal midfielder who scored only once for the club in three seasons, twice went close with long-range efforts but then put his captain Tony Adams in trouble at the other end, only for Johnson to shoot straight at Seaman when well placed.

It looked like Platt had stolen the show when he found reward for his typical hardrunning by getting on the end of a Merson free-kick after lan Wright had been tugged back by Ehiogu.

But Villa recovered splendidly to claim the equaliser and, in the closing stages, it was only a couple of dubious off side decisions by the linesmen that prevented Yorke and Johnson breaching an Arsenal defence that had now lost its composure.

The Gunners had another big escape when transfer-listed substitute Steve Morrow, with his first touch after replacing Dutch winger Glen Helder, sliced his clearance from Alan Wright's low cross inches over the crossbar.

Referee Jeff Winter somehow found four minutes of injury time and that ensured the game ended in controversy. lan Wright seemed to be checked unfairly by Villa's Gareth Southgate as the striker bore down on goal.

But the Stockton official refused to award a free-kick and showed Wright the yellow card for arguing.

Irish international Andy Townsend was also booked.